The free-wheeling style of the infancy days of the internet are, in many ways, similar to the infancy days of radio, back when licenses were not required and technical competence served as its own "gateway filter" against the irresponsible, incompetent or those with nefarious intent.

Those days, for the internet, are long past.

Licensing and self-policing has an excellent model for success -- Amateur Radio. And this is not the first time I've said this. They told me "no, you're crazy" back when I first proposed some sort of testing program and licensing - and that was in ... 1994.

We had a chance, then, to opt for the Ham Radio model for the internet. "We" decided not to, and as a result, the self-imposed model for the internet has become CB radio. And we all know what a useless pile of nonsense THAT is.

So... no more need be said, at least by me. Since I am sure these comments will be met by the usual round of flaming and name-calling.